Respotter mechanism



July 11,1944. R RUNDELL 2,353,189

RESPOTTER MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RUPERT anuuocu.

ATTORNEY July 11, 1944. R. E. RUNDELL RESPOTTER MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RUPERT E.RUNDELL I AT ORNEY Patented July 11, 1944.

UNITED; srATE s PATENT OFFICE aasro'r'ran MECHANISM Rupert E. Randell, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey I Original application October 16, 1940, Serial No. 361,371. Divided and this application Decemher 8. 1942, Serial No. 468,207

13 Claims.

This application is a division of my application, S. N. 361,371, filed Oct. 16, 1940, now Patent 2,310,996 granted Feb. 16, 1943.

Still another object is to provide the pin holders of the respotting device, which may consist of cupsor receptacles mounted on the carrier and arranged to engage the head ends of standing pins following the throwing of the ball andelevate the same to permit sweeping of the fallen pins into the pit of the alley, with diaphragms which control the operation of grippers for gripping the standing pins. In this connection a further object is to provid for suction actuation of the diaphragm of each cup, whichmay be free to move horizontally upon engaging an offspot pin to center itself with respect to the same, at any position -to which the cups may be displaced by engagement with the heads of off-spot pins.

The grippers of the respotter may be actuated electromagnetically, and it is a further object to provide electromagnetic devices for this purpose. The cups of the respotter, which may be free to move upwardly upon engaging the head ends of the pins upon the alley during the descent of the carrier and are displaced horizontally by engage-v ment with'the heads of off-spot pins, are main-' talned in elevated position by an electromagnet which is energized while the grippers are being actuated to grip the pins through the agency of a solenoid.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claim hereunto appended. V

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like char- 1 acters of reference indicate the parts:

Fig. l is a vertical sectionof one of the pin holders or cups of the respotter having its funne same or like in engagement with an off-spot pin; and v Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of respotter cup having its funnel in engagement with an off-spot pin and equipped with a solenoid Referring to Fig. 1, wherein is shown one of a series of cups. or receptacles of the respotter, each of the cups has a funnel normally resting upon a lower support or plate 52 which is supported from the carrier and suitably perforated at 54 to admit the head end of the standing pins during the lowering of the carrier following the throwing of a ball. The funnel 50 is fastened to a base member 56 which has a suitable flange 58 and lugs 60 in which are pivotally mounted the grippers 62. The jaws of the grippers are arranged to enter th perforations 64 in the base member 56 and grip the head end of the pin.

The other ends ofv the grippers are disposed with in slots in the flange 58 and engage an abutment member 66 which is fastened, together with disks 68 and 10, to a flexible diaphragm 12 which "may be formed of' rubber, Neoprene, canvas or of a pin. At the margin of the flanged member 58 there is provided a circular sealing ring 00 which is arranged to engage the plate 82 when the cup is elevated by a standing pin. It may be noted that th member 52 and 82 are fastened to a carrier in the manner shown in the patent to G..J. Schmidt, No. 2,217,709, issued October 15, 1940, whereby each of the cups is supported by the carrier in position to engage and to be elevated by a. standing pin to bring its sealing ring into engagement with a member 82. It will be noted that thefunnel' normally rests on the member 52 and has a limited horizontal movement thereon whereby the .pocket will be centered with respect to oif-spot pins on the bed of a bowling alley by engagement of the funnel 50 with the standing pin during the descent of carrier. When the sealing ring engages the member. 82 it provides in effect a suction chamber above the cover 14. A plunger 84, which has a sliding air tight fit in a casing 85, fastened to the member 82 normally projects into engagement with the cover 14 and is pressed upwardly during the descent of the carrier with the mem bers 52 and 82 thereon, whenever the cup engages a standing pin. Normally, the member 84 is maintained in a position projecting from the casing 86, by balanced springs 88-and 90 engaging acollar 92 fastened'on the member 94 whereby holes 84 in the tubular portion atthe lower. end

of the latter are held in a position in which they are closedby the casing 66. When the member is pressed. upwardly, the holes communicate with a duct 96 in the casing 68 and the notches 98 in the lower. end of member. 84 permits the- Sinc the construction of theplunger- 84 and-cas ing 86 and'the mechanism for applying suction thereto is similar to that shown in the patent to G. J. Schmidt, No. 2,217,709, referred .to above, further description is deemed unnecessary ex.-- cept to note that with the construction just described, suction will be applied to the diaphragm in any position to which the funnel or hood 50 may be displaced by engagement with an offcenter or off-spot pin on the bowling alley.

Referring to Fig. 2, the hood 250, which is one of a series of ten or any other desired number corresponding to the number of bowling pins upon the bed 'ofth'e alley, is-fastened to acup 252, and the hood normally rests on a bottom plate 254 having a perforation 256 which admitsthe head end of a standing bowling pin on the alley. The cup 252 is provided with grippers 258 which are movable through slots. 260 into engagement with the head end of a pin within the'cup'. The grippers are pivoted upon lugs 262 and are provided with tails 264 which project into engagement with a cup shaped'member 266 which has a downwardly bent flange underlying the tails 264. Member 266. and plate 268, the latter overlying the tails 264 of the grippers. are fastened to the core 216 of a solenoid 212' arranged within the base of. the cup. A spring 214-engaging the'plate 268-urges the solenoid core downwardly and thereby rocks the grippers into open position through the engagement of the plate 268 and the member 266 with the tails 264 of the grippers. The funnel. 258 normally rests on the member 254 and has a limited horizontal movement thereon to permit displacement of the funnel and its cup into centered relationship to an oflE-spot bowling pin which it is shown. engaging in Fig. 1 upon the bed ofthe alley. The funnel or hood D and its cup are also free to move vertically oil? the plate 254 upon engaging the head end of a standing bowling pin on the alley' during the descent. of the carrier upon which the plate 254 is supported in a manner similar to that shown in the patentto G. J. Schmidt, No. 2,217,709. As the carrier descends the pin engages the member 266 and thus raises the cup until the steel plate 216 atits upper end is brought into contact with the core 218 of the electromagnet 219. The electro-magnet 219 and its core 218 are supported on. the plate 280 fastened together with the plate 254 to the carrier, in the manner shown in Patent No. 2,217,709,.referred to above. At this time the raised lobe 28! on a cam 282 which is suitably driven in timed relationship to the operation of the carrier, engages the cam follower 264 on the contact member 286 and raises the contacts 288 and 290, which are carried thereon. and insulated from each other, into engagement with a contact 292. A supply line or main 294 connected to a suitable source of current, is connected to contact 292 and has a lead 296 connected in parallel to the winding of the electromsgnetlll'which is connected by lead 266. to the contact 284. Thecontact 288. is connected to one end ofi'the-winding of: the solenoid 212 by a lead 202 and the other end or the solenoid winding is connected: to: the line 884 which is connected like main 294 to thesource of current. Thus the grippers are closed upon the head end of the pin and the plate 218 of the cup is retained electromagnetically on the core 218 of the electromagnet while the pins are raised oil! the alley to permit the sweeping of the fallen pins. The cam. lobe 28l. maintainsthecontacts-fll and 288 in engagement withthe. contact 262 until the table. again descends and depositsthe. pins once more upon. the, bed of; the alley, at which time the camfollower'nl rides oitthe cam lobe and the grippers. are; opened and the plate 216 is released. from the electromagnet core 218. The funnel 259 then re-engages; the plate 264 when the carrier then again ascends.

In addition to the materials mentioned above as suitable for the diaphragm, leather or corrugated metal may be used. It may be noted that besides preventing rubbing of the diaphragm by the grippers, the plate 10 shown in Fig. i assures uniform movement of the grippers into engagement with the pin. If the grippers directly engaged the diaphragm unequal movement thereof might result if any of the portions engaging the grippers should collapse while closing the grippers. The plate 68 shown in Fig. 1 may be made much smaller than the plate 16 if -desired,.without .aifecting the operation of the grippers.

What isclaimedis:

1. In a. bowling. pin setter, the combination with a support, of a funnel mounted on said support and having a limited horizontal movement thereon permitting thesame to be displaced by contact withan off-spot bowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers onsaid funnel adapted to grip a bowling pin withinsaid funnel, and means for actuating said grippers to grip. the endof a bowling pin within said funnel.

2. In. a bowling. pin; setter, the combination with a support, of'a funnel mounted on said. support and having a limited. horizontal movement thereonpermitting the same. to be displaced by' contact with an off-spot bowling pin on they bed. of an alley into centered relationship therewith. grippers on said funnel adapted to grip a bowling pin within said funnel, means for actuating said grippers to grip. the end of a bowling pin within said funnel, said means including a flexible diaphragm engaging said grippers, a spring urging said diaphragm. into position to open. said grippers, andQa suction chamber behindsaid diaphragm adapted to move said diaphragm. into position: to close said grippers and grip the bowling pin upon application: of suction to said chamber.

3. In a bowling pin setter, the combination witha support, of a funnel mounted onsaid support and having a limitedhorizontal movement thereon permitting. the same to be displaced by contact with an ofl-spotbowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers on said funnel adapted to grip a bowling pin within said funnel, means for actuating said grippers to grip the end of a bowling pin within said funneLsaid means including a. member engaging'said grippers, and a solenoid having a core connected'to said member and adapted to displace said member suiliciently upon energization of the solenoid to close said grippers and thereby grip the pin within said funnel.

4. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with a support, of a funnel mounted on said support and having a limited horizontal movement thereon permitting the same to be displaced by contact with an ofispot bowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers on said funnel adapted to grip a bowling pin within'said funnel, means for actuating said grippers to grip the end of a bowling pin within said funnel, said funnel being yieldable vertically upon engagement with thehandle end of a pin upon an alley.

5. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with a support, of a funnel mounted on said support and having a limited horizontal movement thereon permitting the same to be displaced by contact with an ofi-spot bowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers on said funnel adapted to grip a bowling pin within said funnel, means for actuating said grippers to grip the end of a bowling pin within said funnel, and said means including a yielding member arranged to engage the end of a pin upon the alley and adapted to close said grippers upon said pin.

6. In a bowling pin setter; the combination with a support, of a funnel mounted on said support and having a limited horizontal movement thereon permitting the same to be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers carried by said funnel and adapted to grip a bowling ,pin Within said funnel, and a solenoid controlling the operation of said grippers when energized.

7. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with a support, of a funnel mounted on said support and having a limited horizontal movement thereon permitting the same to be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the bed of an alley into centered relationship therewith, grippers carried by said funnel and adapted to grip a bowling pin within said funnel, a solenoid controlling the operation of said grippers when energized, said funnel being elevated vertically upon contacting the head of a bowling pin upon an alley, and an electromagnet for maintaining said funnel in its elevated position.

8. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with bowling pin gripper mechanism, of a support for said gripper mechanism having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to engage a standing pin on the bowling alley and be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the alley to move said gripper mechanism into centered relationship with the ofispot bowling pin, and means arranged externally of said support for actuating said gripper mechanism at any displaced or undisplaced position of said support.

9. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with bowling pin gripper mechanism, of a support for said gripper mechanism having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to engage a standing pin on the bowling alley and be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the alley to move said gripper mechanism into centered relationship with the oiT-spot bowling pin, and means arranged externally of said support for actuating said gripper mechanism at any displaced or undisplaced position of said support, to grip the bowling pin.

10. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with bowling pin gripper mechanism, of a support for said gripper mechanism having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to engage a standing pin on the bowling alley and be displaced by contact with an oiI-spot bowling pin on the alley to move said gripper mechanism into centered relationship with the oil-spot bowling pin, means arranged externally of said support for actuating said gripper mechanism at any displaced or undisplaced position of said support, to grip the bowling pin, and then release the same upon the bowling alley.

11. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with bowling pin gripper mechanism, of a support for said gripper mechanism having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to engage a standing pin on the bowling alley and be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the alley to move said gripper mechanism into centered relationship with the oil-spot bowling pin, and electromagnetic means for actuating said gripper mechanism at any displaced or undisplaced position of said support.

12. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with a receptacle having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to engage a standing pin on the bowling alley and be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the alley, of a magnetizable member on said receptacle, an electromagnet arranged to engage said member at various positions of said receptacle, and mechanism for energizing said electromagnet to cause adhesion of said member to said electromagnet.

13. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with bowling pin gripper mechanism, of a support for said gripper mechanism having a limited horizontal movement and adapted to be displaced by contact with an off-spot bowling pin on the alley to move said gripper mechanism into centered relationship with the off-spot bowling pin, and fluid-actuated means for actuating said gripper mechanism at any displaced or undisplaced position of said support.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL. 

